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Premier League team news

All the latest ahead of the weekend action

Fri, Apr 26, 2013, 17:36

SATURDAY

Everton (6) v Fulham (11)Everton manager David Moyes is hopeful defender Phil Jagielka and midfielder Darron Gibson will be fit to face Fulham. Jagielka (ankle) missed last weekend’s defeat at Sunderland while Gibson was substituted at half-time, although Moyes said his injury was not related to his long-term thigh problem. Forward Victor Anichebe should be fit after complaining of a tight hamstring last week.

Fulham winger Damien Duff is expected to return from a thigh injury but Steve Sidwell begins the first of a four-match ban following his red card against Arsenal last weekend. Defender Sascha Riether (ankle) is doubtful. Midfielders Mahamadou Diarra (knee), Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Simon Davies (hip) are out.

Manchester City (2) v West Ham (10)David Silva, James Milner and Sergio Aguero are all available for Manchester City following hamstring problems. Midfielder Jack Rodwell has been out for almost two months with his latest hamstring problem but could be available while defenders Maicon and Micah Richards (both knee) are not yet ready for a return.

West Ham are without defensive pair James Tomkins (calf) and George McCartney (knee). Mark Noble could begin his first game since February while Joe Cole, who also came off the bench against Wigan last weekend following his recovery from a hamstring problem, may make his first start since March 2nd.

Newcastle (16) v Liverpool (7)Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote (hamstring) could return after he resumed training this week. Skipper Fabricio Coloccini (back) is also back on the training pitch but midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) is out and full back Davide Santon (hamstring) may not play again this season along with goalkeeper Tim Krul (shoulder) and utility man Ryan Taylor (cruciate ligament).

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez begins his suspension for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, opening the way for Daniel Sturridge to take his place. Reduced options up front could mean forward Fabio Borini, out since February with a dislocated shoulder but training again, could make the squad.

Southampton (12) v West Brom (8)Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has an almost fully-fit squad with only midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who suffered an unspecified knock in an under-21 fixture against the Baggies earlier in the week, absent. Forward Guly do Prado returns after missing the trip to Swansea through illness, while full back Luke Shaw will push for a recall.

West Brom will be without captain Chris Brunt after the midfielder picked up a knee injury in the draw with Newcastle. Defender Billy Jones should be available despite suffering a gash to his leg against the Magpies. Peter Odemwingie (knee) is fit again while midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is suspended.

Stoke (15) v Norwich (13)Stoke manager Tony Pulis has doubts surrounding four players with winger Matthew Etherington the most likely to figure of the quartet despite ongoing issues with a back problem. Defender Marc Wilson (hamstring), midfielder Charlie Adam (ankle) and striker Cameron Jerome (ankle) will all have late checks on their fitness.

Central defender Michael Turner (groin) will be not be fit to play and is “touch and go”, according to Norwich manager Chris Hughton, for next week’s game against Aston Villa. Leon Barnett has been recalled from his loan spell at Cardiff as cover for Turner. Hughton could include first-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy following his five-month lay-off with a thigh injury.

Wigan (18) v Tottenham (5)Jean Beausejour is set to return to Wigan’s starting line-up. With Antolin Alcaraz (hamstring) out for three weeks, Beausejour is likely to profit from a defensive reshuffle that could see Maynor Figueroa move back from the wing-back berth he filled at West Ham last weekend.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon has recovered from his knee injury and is available while Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe suffered no reaction to their respective ankle and pelvis problems against Manchester City last Sunday. Midfielder Sandro (knee) and defensive duo Younes Kaboul (thigh) and William Gallas (calf) are unavailable.

Alex Ferguson is expected to freshen up his Manchester United starting line-up with skipper Nemanja Vidic back, while Rio Ferdinand, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck are all in contention. Having revealed earlier this week they played against Aston Villa on Monday despite carrying injuries, Ferguson may elect to rest Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans.

Chelsea (4) v Swansea (9)Demba Ba is likely to return up front for Chelsea after he was ineligible for the midweek 2-1 Europa League semi-final first-leg win at Basle. Eden Hazard is in line to face Swansea for the first time since being sent off for kicking a ball boy during February’s Capital One Cup semi-final between the teams. Gary Cahill (knee) could return after a six-week absence.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has a fully-fit squad and Neil Taylor could again be on the bench after returning from an eight-month absence against Southampton last weekend. Laudrup may once again look to move Michu into the centre-forward position after withdrawing Luke Moore at half-time against the Saints.

Reading (20) v QPR (19)Reading manager Nigel Adkins will still be without a number of first-team players. Hal Robson-Kanu has resumed training following a knee injury but Adam Federici, Hope Akpan (both ankle) and Jimmy Kebe (groin) are still missing. They join long-term absentee Jason Roberts (hip) on the sidelines.

QPR winger Andros Townsend is out with a hamstring injury while midfielder Adel Taarabt will have a late fitness test on his shoulder injury. Striker Bobby Zamora serves the final game of his suspension. Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips is out after undergoing ankle surgery and Andrew Johnson is sidelined with a knee problem.

Aston Villa (17) v Sunderland (14)Villa boss Paul Lambert has no fresh injury concerns after striker Gabriel Agbonlahor played the full 90 minutes in their 3-0 defeat by Manchester United last Monday night. Midfielder Gary Gardner is working his way back to fitness after missing most of the season with knee ligament damage while Chris Herd, Marc Albrighton (both foot) and Richard Dunne (groin) remain sidelined.

Craig Gardner will return to the Sunderland squad following suspension. Fellow full-back Phil Bardsley is fighting to shake off an ankle problem, but strike Connor Wickham will miss out once again with a calf injury, as will long-term absentees Lee Cattermole (knee) and Steven Fletcher (ankle).